The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-21
SOCIETY STARTLED.
Two Charming But Dubious Visitors
in Washington Circles.

Two Charming But Dubious Visitors
in Washington Circles.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S-A little volcano
is smouldering in a certain fashionable cir
Gle where the arstocracy of the army and
navy feel most at home There may be an
eruption, but several Rear-Admirais and a
retired Major General or two, are setting
on the crater, so to speak, and hope to sup
press it. Early in the season there appeared
here gentleman and lady, who stopped at
one of the hotels and were soon acquainted
with everybody worth knowing in
the house. The gentleman was OF
fine appearance, with blase all
and devoted affection for the lady, who
was sprightly and pretty, and a little Bit
retiring in manner, just enough TO make
| people think she was particular to know
whom she was talking to before she said any
thing. There wasn't a symptom that they
were seeking an introduction into society.
| On the contrary, the lady was always re-
| luctant to be introduced to strangers and
inquired particularly about everybody, al
though in a most inoffensive and apologetic
way, and when some lady, attracted by her
beauty and her diamonds, asked her to as
sist in receiving or invited her 20 make calls,
her husband would observe:
| II guess you don't care about it; do you,
my dearP'
| Thus it went on until the gentleman and
his lovely wife were led, or rather pushed
into the most select circle in town. They
dined with foreign Ministers and at the
houses of the Cabinet She was escorted
about by the proudest men in the army and
navy, and their wives were glad to be talked
at by him in his languid way. Both had
evidently Travelled, and knew all about
Europe and the latest ''fads."
At the clubs the gentleman was at his
best, and he played small game reluc-
family with the Generals and the Admirals
and the men about town, provided they
wouldn't extend the limit beyond him.
For Pm so deucedly unlucky at cards
| you know" he would say.
| After a week or two, when the men whom
| he played with came to count up their gains
and LOSES. they noticed that the quiet
deferential stranger always won not much
to be sure, but enough to pay his hotel bills,
for he invariably quit the game from $50 to
$50 ahead.
Pretty soon he began to talk about in
vestments so glibly that almost every man
that he met was fascinated by the enter
prise which he had very little knowledge
| about.
The net was being skillfully woven and
| drawn around the fish, as all of the limo
| cents now recognize, when there appeared
in Washington and at the same hotel where
| the strangers were stopping naval officer
who had been in Europe some years. He
noticed the husband and wife in the dining
room, and wondered where he had seen
them before. Then he met the husband at
| the club and was introduced to him. The
stranger noticed the officers puzzled ex-
preston as he eyed him, and several times
one evening grew restless under it. Finally
| he asked with some ill-humor why the officer
was staring at him SO intently.
| Because | think have met you some
where before" replied the officer, land now
| | am quite sure of it."
The stranger threw down a magazine he
had been holding with some impatience,
rem lrked that the room was very close and
| took stroll upstairs The officer followed
him and requested few moments private
conversation. The stranger could not deny
the request, and they returned to another
apartment, from which they both soon
retired. The appearance Of the officer was
| determined and the stranger left the house
without bidding any one go) night After
| he had gone the officer made some inquiries,
| but no one seemed to know who the gentle
man was, although every one agreed that
he was charming fellow, and one Admiral
| who had dined rather resented the retec-
tions upon him. The officer took the Ad-
miral aside and told him story that made
his venerable hair stand on end. What it
| was has not been disclosed, but the stranger
| and his pretty wife left town in the morn
ing, and all sorts of stories are afoat The
exact truth is not known, but there seems
to be general understanding that the dis
| tinguiShed-loOking man Is well but not
| favorably known in New York and Europe
and the innocents of Washington have had
| a narrow escape.